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P 

Interna 



international Copyrighted (in England, her Colonies, and 
lited States) Edition of the Works of the Best Authors 



ij 



No. 314 



AT THE WINDOW 



A Comedy in One Act 



BV 



LILIAN F. CHANDLER 



C .I'VKirjuT, 1915. BY SAMUEL FRENCH 



PERMISSION NOT REQUIRED TO PRODUCE THIS 
COMEDY 



PRICE 25 CENTS 



New York 
SAMUEL FRENCH 

PUBLISHER 

28-30 WEST 38th STREET 



London 

SAMUEL FRENCH, Ltd. 

26 Southampton Street 

STRAND 



AT THE WINDOW 



A Comedy in One Act 



BY 



LILIAN F. CHANDLER 



Copyright, 1915, by SAMUEL FKEXCH 



PERMISSION NOT REQUIRED TO PRODUCE THIS 
COMEDY 



New York 
SAMUEL FRENCH 

PUBLISHER 

28-30 WEST 38th Street 



London 

SAMUEL FRENCH, Ltd. 

26 Southampton Street, 

STRAND 






AT THE WINDOW. 



CAST. 



Mrs. Enid Huntington A young zvidow 

Miss Julia Duncan Her aunt 

Blanche Compton Her friend 

Mrs. Maitland Another friend 

Marie Her maid 

The Swami Nashikak. 
The Man. 

2 



S)CI,D 42663 



JAN '6 1916 



TMPS2-008815 



AT THE WINDOW. 



Scene: — A living room. Open. Windozv at back 
centre. As the curtain rises, Marie is dis- 
covered at the zvindozv, ivaving her handker- 
chief, and flirting zvith someone not seen. 
Then Mrs. Huntington passes the zvindow, 
on her zvay to the house, and zvhen Marie 
sees her, she is embarrassed, and runs from 
the room. 

(Enter Mrs. Huntington in street costume. She 
hurriedly zvalks to the zvindozv, and looks up 
and dozen the street, then zvalks forzvard.) 

Mrs. Huntington. I wonder if I am in time? 
How I have hurried! (Goes and looks out again) 
HI am too late, it will break my heart ! (Begins 
to take off gloves) Of course, calling or writing is 
out of the question — and yet — I wonder — (Rings 
bell. Enter Marie) Marie, has anyone called? 

Marie. But, yes, Madame, there are many. 

Mrs. Huntington. Bring the cards. (Marie 
goes out and returns zvith the cards, Mrs. Hunt- 
ington looking out of zvindozv meanzvhile. Takes 
cards and looks them over) Mrs. Brown, Mrs. 
Hunter, Mr. West. If that man would stay away 
one day — just for the novelty of.it ! If I could only 
have a chance to miss him ! Mrs. Bradley, Mr. 
Hastings — There's another swain, as regular as the 
milk boy. Why don't they realize that absence 
makes the heart grow fond! Mr. Nash — (Sorts 

3 



4 AT THE WINDOW. 

cards hurriedly) Oh, the same old lot! No one 
new. Where are the letters, jNIarie? 

Marie. {Takes letters from table) Here, 
Madame ! 

Mrs. Huntington. Bills, bills, bills, Maud, 
Edith, Tom Crowell — proposing again, I'll be 
bound. — Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 
without fail. Ah ! Here is a strange hand. 
{Opens and reads) 
" Beautiful Lady ! " Oh ! 

*' Pardon the liberty I take in expressing my un- 
bounded admiration. I have seen you so often ! I 
have watched you on the street — ^your dainty head 
erect — your little feet spanning the pavements ! " 
Oh it cannot be ! Em furious — I think ! ''I have 
seen you sitting pensively in your window." It is ; 
it is ! " In all moods, under all circumstanoss, you 
are beautiful — divine!" Ah! ''Would you, oh, 
would you help — a poor — man — by — letting him — 
exhibit — your — pictures — in his — photograph — gal- 
lery ! " {She throzvs letter on floor, and stamps on 
it) An advertisement ! Well, for sheer imperti- 
nence, this will certainly take a prize ! Marie, what 
have you been doing in my absence? 

Marie. I sat here in the window, mending the 
lace of Madame's dress. 

Mrs. Huntington. {Hesitatingly) Did any- 
one — go — by — Marie ? 

Marie. Go by, Madame? 

Mrs. Huntington. Yes, go by — pass the win- 
dow, I mean. 

Marie. But, yes, Madame ; many persons. 

Mrs. Huntington. Any — man — Marie? 

Marie. {Hesitating) Yes — one, Madame; and 
{bashfully) he — stop^if Madame please. 

Mrs. Huntington. Stop? Oh, what did he 
look like ? 

Marie. {Ecstatically) Beautiful, Madame! 
Si tall ! 



AT THE WINDOW. 5 

Mrs. Huntington. (Excited) Yes! 

]\Iarie. Si strong! 

Mrs. Huntinton. (More excited) Yes ! ! 

AIarie. Of a grandeur unspeakable ! 

Mrs. Huntington. Yes ! Yes ! ! What did he 
do? 

Marie. (Bashful) Oh, IMadame! 

Mrs. Huntington. I am waiting ! 

]\Iarie. Pardon, Madame ! He do hke zis ! 
(Thro7vs kiss in manly fashion) 

Mrs. Huntington. IVhat? (Aside) I shall 
choke! Well, what did you do? 

]\Iarie. Oh, Madame! He was si beautiful — ! 

]\Irs. Huntington. Well? 

Marie. Madame, I do like zis, also. (Throzvs 
kiss daintily) 

Mrs. Huntington. (Sivallozving hard) Did 
he speak? 

Marie. Yes, Madame — he say — (Bashfully) 
He come to ze window and he say — " Oh, kiddo, 
you certainly look good to me!" (Turns aside) 

]\Irs. Huntington. (Aside) I shall die! I 
shall die ! My maid's young man — and I love him ! 
he, Marie? 
— Oh, the disgrace! (Turns to Marie) JVho was 

]\Iarie. I fear Madame is angry, but I thought' 
no harm. He is ze — ze — gendame — how you call — 
ze policeinan, Madame. 

^Irs. Huntington. (Greatly relieved) The 
policeman, Marie ! That's very nice. I'm sure. 
Why didn't you say so? Tell him to drop in any 
time. Ask him to come here and spend his Sun- 
days in, or his Thursdays out — or whatever he has. 
Tell him I approve. I'll buy your trousseau. He 
can come and live with us ! I — I — There ! Go ! I 
shall not need you. (Exit Marie) I think I am 
going mad. (Goes to ivindozv again) I must be 
too late to-day. Why didn't I hurry ! 



6 AT THE WINDOW. 

(Enter Aunt Julia. A very prim person, work in 
hand.) 

Aunt Julia. So you have returned at last! 

Mrs. Huntington. Oh, yes! I wouldn't be 
late for anything! 

Aunt Julia. Late for what? 

Mrs. Huntington. Why — why — late for any- 
thing, I said. 

Aunt Julia. Pah! {Seats herself at zvindozv) 

Mrs. Huntington. {Hurriedly) Oh, don't sit 
there. Auntie ! 

Aunt Julia. {Severely) Why not? Do you 
wish to sit here? 

Mrs. Huntington. No — oh, no — that is — I 

Aunt Julia. Well, if you do not, I do! The 
light in this room is not enough for an owl; and I 
wish to work. 

Mrs. Huntington. {Resigned) Very well ! I 
will draw aside the curtains, and give you as much 
light as possible. 

Aunt Julia. Do not! No lady allows the 
whole v/orld to look into her home. 

Mrs. Huntington. Not the whole world, 
Auntie ; only — Ah ! 

(The Man appears and zvalks sloivly past the win- 
dozv. He looks in. Mrs. Huntington stands 
perfectly still, and zvatches him ecstatically.) 

Aunt Julia. {All the time zvatching Mrs. 
Huntington. Does not see Man) Another of 
those strange spells ! What is the matter vv^ith you ? 
Did you see anything? 

Mrs. Huntington. {Recovering herself) 
Nothing ! 

Aunt Julia. Just as I thought! You can't be 
well ! Your behavior is extraordinary ! You are 
not normal ! 



AT THE WINDOW. 7 

Mrs. Huntington. No, Aimtie, you are right. 
I — am — not — normal! (Exit Mrs. Huntington) 

Aunt Julia. (Looking up and dozvn street) I 
wonder if she saw anything. But no ! She must 
be ill ! I'll attend to her case at once. Already I 
have put it off too long! (Works zcith determina- 
tion) 

(Enter Blanche in street attire.) 

Blanche. Good-afternoon, Miss Duncan. They 
said Enid was here. 

Aunt Julia. (Grimly) That doesn't prove 
anything. 

Blanche. Prove anything! 

Aunt Julia. Exactly ! Her movements are, to 
say the least — erratic. She is here one moment 
and gone the next. She is nervous — restless. She 
v.-atches the clock. Spends a great deal of time at 
this window. Talks rationally, as a general thing, 
I admit ; and yet, at times, she stops suddenly — 
petrified for a moment or two — and then — By the 
way; those spells occur always in this room, just 
about where you are standing. 

Blanche. (Hastily jumping off spot) ]\Iercy ! 
I hope it isn't catching ! You alarm me ! 

Aunt Julia. (Solemnly) Blanche, something 
is the matter with Enid. She is possessed, and I 
am going to cure her ! I have been attending those 
Swami lectures. You know those men can cast out 
devils ; and I have made an appointment with one 
— a Swami, I mean — to cast the devil out of Enid. 
He is coming here to-day. 

Blanche. Ha ! Ha ! Ha ! Have you broken 
the news to Enid ? How pleased she will be ! 

Aunt Julia. Hush ! No ! Not a word ! It 
would break the charm ! You must stay and see the 
Swami work. Perhaps you can help ! 

Blanche. Delighted ! I wouldn't miss it for 



8 AT THE WINDOW. 

worlds ! Are there red fire and incense and — • 
(Tragically) ghosts with streaming hair and palhd 
faces — thunder and hghtning — and, and 

Aunt Julia. Mercy ! No ! You make my flesh 
creep ! Wait and see ! I am going to my room 
now, to put my soul in harmony with the All-Good. 
Enid will be here in a moment. 

Blanche. Don't mind me ! I will compose my 
soul also. 

(Exit Aunt Julia. Blanche sits laughing, and 
Mrs. Huntington enters.) 

Mrs. Huntington. Why, you dear thing! 
Hope you haven't been waiting long. 

Blanche. Just a few moments ; visiting w^th 
Aunt Julia. She is worried about you, by the way ; 
thinks you are ill — or out of your mind. 

Mrs. Huntington. (Solemnly) I think I am 
myself — if ever I had a mind, or common sense — 
or — Oh, r don't know what has happened to me! 

Blanche. My dear ! You — the blithe — the joy- 
ous — the care free — What can have happened? 

Mrs. Huntington. I don't know, Blanche; I 
don't know. I can't sleep ! I prefer to sit up and 
look at the moon. I don't care one bit about fruit 
salad any more. I hate the theatre ; the love-mak- 
ing seems to me so unreal — so unnatural ! And 
only yesterday, I found myself trying to write 
poetry; poetry — me! Think of it! What can be 
the matter? 

Blanche. Ha! Ha! Ha! (Continues to 
laugh) 

Mrs. Huntington. (Indignant) What are 
you laughing about? I thought I could count on 
your friendship. 

Blanche. So you can, dearest ; so you can. To 
the death! (Dramatically) But you don't mean 
to say that you — a widow — cannot diagnose such 



AT THF. WINDOW. 9 

symptoms as those! Why, if I^a maiden — an un- 
appropriated blessing — should develop such a case 
as that, I should know right away that I was in 
love; and I'd get over it. 

Mrs. Huntington. I suppose you will say I am 
an idiot ! 

Blanche. My dear — the backbone of civiliza- 
tion is our reticence about telling our friends z^'Jiat 
we think of them. 

]\Irs. Huntington. Oh, well, I don't care! Yes, 
I am in love — for the first time. Jim was dear, but 
he was more like my elder brother than a husband. 
But this is different. I am really in love — head 
over heels — five fathoms deep — desperately — 
wildly — hopelessly. 

Blanche. Cheer up, honey ! A good looking 
girl, and a v/idow, need never love " hopelessly." 
Who's the man? 

jMrs. Huntington. I don't know ! 

Blanche. Don't know? Well, Aunt Julia is 
right. It is a case for the Swami. 

Mrs. Huntington. Please, please don't laugh 
at me ! I want friendly advice so badly. 

Blanche. (Solemnly) I'll never smile. again; 
but hurry up ! I am simply dying of curiosity. 

^Irs. Huntington. Well, then ; I was sitting 
here in the window one morning, when a man 
passed. 

Blanche. Wonderful ! ! 

Mrs. Huntington. There you go again ! Of 
all the heartless ! But you are not to blame, I 
should have said " The " Man. There is only one 
man in all the world ! 

Blanche. Horrors ! I knew there was an ap- 
palling scarcity of them in Massachusetts, but I 
didn't think it was as bad as that ! I'll hang my 
harp on the nearest willow tree. 

]\Irs. Huntington. Blanche ! IVill you stop 
joking! This man — The Man — was, as JNIarie says, 



lo AT THE WINDOW. 

" Si beautiful — si tall — si strong — of a gradeur un- 
speakable ! " He looked at me, and I looked at 
him, and 

Blanche. And — Yes ! Went on cutting bread 
and butter. Oh, you didn't smile — oh, don't say you 
smiled — nervously, of course? 

Mrs. Huntington. Miss Compton, I trust I 
shall always be a lady, however trying the circum- 
stances. Every day since then, he has passed the 
house at the same time. He looks at me and I look 
at him, and — that's all. 

Blanche. How stupid ! Hasn't he spoken one 
poor word ? 

Mrs. Huntington. Certainly not! No gentle- 
man would address a lady whom he does not know. 

Blanche. Pardon ! But Romeo spoke to Juliet. 
Or no ! she spoke to him. Didn't she ? 

Mrs. Huntington. You know, I've been think- 
ing of that ! If I couldn't address him somehow. 
But how? I can't say "Art thou not Romeo, and 
a Montague?" for of course he isn't. And if I 
said — ** Speak, speak, thou fearful guest, who in 
rude armor dressed, cometh to haunt me " he would 
be angry ; for that's not polite. I have thought I 
would go out and accidentally fall off the doorsteps 
into his arms ; but if I should miss ! and the pave- 
ments are so hard ! Besides — they only do those 
things successfully in books. Oh, do advise me, 
Blanche. I'm worn to a frazzle ! 

Blanche. As I said before — cheer up ! Auntie 
is going to cure you. 

Mrs. Huntington. Auntie going to cure me? 
But, Blanche, I don't want to be cured. 

Blanche. You wait ! Aunt Julia's doctor can 
cast out devils. He is coming this afternoon to cast 
yours out. Now dont be angry. Let him come ! 
It w411 be more fun than a box of monkeys ! 

Mrs Huntington. Very funny for the rest of 
you, but how about me? I refuse to 



AT THF. WINDOW. ii 

(Enter Aunt Julia ivilJi Swami. He is dressed 
in a long flozving zvhite robe and turban. He 
enters solemnly, holding up both liands in 
greeting.) 

Aunt Julia. This is the Swami Nashikak, 
Enid. He has come to cure you of your strange 
illness. 

Mrs. Huntington. I am not ill, Auntie ; I will 
not 

Blanche. (Softly) Oh, go on, Enid! Be a 
sport ! I haven't had a good laugh in a wxek. 
.Mrs. Huntington. Very well: do your worst! 
.^^^WAMi. .You must all sit. in a circle and do as 
I do. (They each take a sofa cushion and sit on 
the floor. The Swami at side, Enid near, afid 
Blanche and Aunt Julia zvith backs to zvindozv) 
In the silence! In the silence! (He breathes 
deeply several times, then raises arms and lozvers 
tJirn once or tzvice; then rocks back and forth, 
silently at first. All imitate his motions. Aunt 
Julia, earnestly; Blanche zvith difficulty restrain- 
ing her laughter, and Enid disgusted. Chanting) 

Out on thee. Vile One ! Leave this Lady fair ! 

Thy fetters loosen, and thy deadly snare 
Remove at once ! Begone, and come no more ! 

Thy power is vanquished, and thy work is o'er. 

Say " O-o-o-m, O-o-o-m, O-o-o-m. 

All. O-o-o-m, O-o-o-m, O-o-o-m, (All rock 
solemnly) 

Swami. 

So shalt thou, Lady, live in earthly bliss 

Free from all bondage ; and no fiend like this 

Shall trouble thee henceforward. Joyous now and 
free. 
Calm and contented may you ever be. 

Say " O-o-o-m, O-o-o-m, O-o-o-m. 
All. O-o-o-m, O-o-o-m, O-o-o-m, 



12 AT THE WINDOW. 

SwAMi. (Suddenly grozviug excited) Ah ! He 
moves! He is going! The Devil is gone! See! 
(Points frantically to the windozv, and as he says 
"See!'' the Man appears, looks in for a moment, 
and is gone. Mrs. Huntington and the Swami 
see him, but Aunt Julia and Blanche do not turn 
in time) 

Mrs. Huntington. (Rises to feet) But I don't 
want him to go ! I want him here — now — all the 
time ! 

Aunt Julia. (Sternly) Enid, I am surprised! 

Mrs. Huntington. Don't speak to me, Aunt 
Julia ! I can't bear it ! Take that horrid man away 
this moment! (She rushes from room) 

Blanche. Good-bye, Swami, it has been most 
enjoyable; most instructive; most exciting! 

Swami. Farewell! (Raises hands solemnly, 
and goes out with Aunt Julia) 

Blanche. Well! Now what did Enid see? 

Mrs. Huntington. (Entering cautiously) 
Have they gone? 

Blanche. They have. Come and explain your 
extraordinary conduct. Whom did you see that 
you wanted " now — all the time ? " 

Mrs. Huntington. (Laughing) Well, it was 
just too funny! At the exact moment when the 
Swamxi said — " The Devil is gone ! See ! " The 
Man appeared at the window. Ha! Ha! (Gr Giv- 
ing dejected) what will he think of me for sitting 
in that idiotic fashion, with that hideous old fakir? 

Blanche. He will think that is a very mild 
freak — when he knows you. But I am just dying 
for a cup of tea, to steady my nerves. Let us hope 
your Man won't mind being called a " devil." Ha ! 
Ha! 

Mrs. Huntington. (Rings hell and Marie en- 
ters) Tea, Marie. 



AT THE WINDOW. 13 

(Enter Mrs. Maitland, follozved by INIarie icilli 
tea tray.) 

Aunt Julia. Well, Enid, my poor child, do you 
feel better now? You can never after this dispute 
the power of the Swami. 

I\Irs. Huntington. Auntie, let us never speak 
of that disgusting creature again. 

(Enter Mrs. Maitland.) 

i\lRS. Huntington. Oh, Mrs. IMaitland, how 
good of you to come this afternoon ! Find a com- 
fortable chair, and let me give you some tea. 

Mrs. Maitland. Thank you. I am fortunate 
to find you at home. Yes, I will have a cup of tea, 
I think. I haven't had but eight cups to-day, and 
ten's my limit. 

Blanche. Isn't it wonderful how you do it — 
with your complexion ! 

Aunt Julia. Humph ! Anyone can have a 
complexion now-a-days — as long as the money 
lasts. 

Mrs. Maitland. (Uncertainly) Yes? You 
were saying ? 

Mrs. Huntington. She was saying that you 
did indeed have a wonderful skin. 

Mrs. Maitland. Thanks, dear ]\Iiss Duncan ! 
So good of you ! But have you heard the news, 
girls ? 

Blanche. News ? No ! What ever happens in 
tJiis town? 

]\Irs. AIaitland. Oh, my dears ! I do assure 
you ! The most ro m ant ic ! 

Aunt Julia. I should think you women were 
all long past the " romantic " stage. 

]\1rs. Maitland. Ah, dear lady ! It mostly de- 
pends upon vvdiether one is married or not. But 
my news! Of course, you are all dining at the 
Humphrey's to-night. Do you know why? 



14 AT THE WINDOW. 

Aunt Julia. Certainly ! Just because that wo- 
man is never happy unless she is showing off that 
house of hers ! 

Mrs. Huntington. Yes, we are all going; and 
I have a new blue chiffon dinner gown that is sim- 
ply a dream ! 

Mrs. Maitland. So glad ! You will need it ! er 
— I don't mean that, but I want you to look your 
best to-night, for you may be the lucky one you 
know. 

Mrs. Huntington. The lucky one? Please ex- 
plain. 

Mrs. Maitland. Well, isn't that what I am try- 
ing to do? 

Aunt Julia. Young woman, I have a book on 
the art of conversation, which I will lend you. It 
will teach you to come to the point — if there is one 
in your ramblings. 

Mrs. Maitland. {Vaguely) You were saying 
— I fear I am a little deaf. Well, girls, as I began 
to tell you — There is a Man. 

Blanche. Wonderful! Marvelous, Mrs. Sher- 
lock Holmes ! This is the second time to-day I 
have heard that There is a Man. I wonder if it is 
the same man. 

Mrs. Huntington. (Ecstatically) Oh, if it 
only might be ! 

Mrs. Maitland. I am sorry, my dear, but I 
fear not. There is only one Man. 

Blanche. Then it is the same, for there is no 
other man than the man I heard about. 

(As she speaks the Man comes to the window, and 
lays a rose on the sill, zvith a note attached. 
He goes azvay zvithout being seen.) 

Mrs. Huntington. Hurry up and tell us the 
rest, Mrs. Maitland. We are crazy to hear. 

Mrs. Maitland. It seems that Mrs. Humph- 



AT TFII' WINDOW. 15 

rey's English cousin is visiting them ; and he's an 
Earl, my dears — the Earl of Hartford. Think of 
it! 

Aunt Julia. And of course he has come over 
for some American girl's money. All of them do. 

Mrs. Maitland. No, he's a bachelor, and fabu- 
lously rich. And, oh, my dears ! It's the most ro- 
mantic ! The Humphreys haven't been able to per- 
suade him to meet anyone since he came. He has 
just walked about town by himself. They supposed 
it was his haughty, exclusive English ivay; but it 
seems he has formed the most romantic attachment 
for a charming creature, whom he happened to see 
the day he arrived. He finally confessed his infat- 
uation to the Humphreys, and told them where the 
girl lived. Fortunately, she is in our set, so they 
know her, and they have invited her to dinner to- 
night, with the rest of us — to meet him. Of course, 
she doesn't know a thing about his visiting there, 
or loving her, or being an Earl, or anything. 

Aunt Julia. Humph ! Don't you believe it ! 
No doubt the hussy has been flirting with him from 
her window. 

Mrs. Maitland. No! Really! IMrs. Hum- 
phrey just told me! He swears he nez'er did any- 
thing but look at her. But they will be regularly 
introduced to-night ; and Mrs. Humphrey has fixed 
up the most romantic place in the conservatory — 
near the fountain, you know, and of course he will 
propose, and, she — Oh, girls ! Isn't it the most ro- 
mantic! I'm almost sorry I'm married! 

Aunt Julia. And no doubt your husband is. 

Mrs. Maitland. I'm so curious to know who 
she is, I can't n^ait till the time comes ! Isn't she 
lucky! But I must run. Good-bye! Good-bye! 
So sorry for your — your toothache. Miss Duncan ! 
It makes people so ill-natured, doesn't it ! 

(]\Irs. Maitland goes out.) 



i6 AT THE WINDOW. 

INIrs. Huntington. Oh, Blanche, if it only 
might be he, and I the girl! 

Blanche. I believe it is ! Good luck, dearest ! 
I must go too. I want to be in time for the denoue- 
ment. Cheer up, Enid. You do look ravishing 
in that blue . chiffon ! Au revoir. 

Aunt Julia. Wait a minute, Blanche. I want 
to show you my new fern. {They go out) 

(Mrs. Huntington alone, sees rose on sill. Takes 
it up, pulls off note, Opens and reads.) 

Mrs. Huntington. (Reading) 

" At last, I dare approach you ; and to-night, I 

shall have the happiness of speaking with you in 

my cousin's home. If you are glad, wear my rose, 

and stand in your accustomed place, when I pass. 

All yours, as you know. 

Hartford." 
Hartford ! The Earl of Hartford ! (Presses note 
to her lips) Oh, I hope I shan't die before ei^ht 
o'clock ! 

(She fastens rose in her gozvn, and stands zvaiting. 
The Man passes slozvly, lifting his hat.) 

CURTAIN. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRF<iQ 

■fflBll. 

016 102 628 1 




